Pipe tongs



L. E. VAUGHN Sept. 21, 1937.

PIPE TONGS Filed May 18, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lll .L

L. E. VAUGHN Sept. [21, 1937.'

PIPE TONGS Filed May 18, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 @MIA/" H10 mm Nw MM In. M M f T TUR/VE! Sept. 2'1, 1937. L. E. VAUGHN 2,093,783

' PIPE ToNGs Filed May 18, 1956 4 sheets-Sheet 5 v In? 1| l p vl lea.

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PIPE T'ONGS' Filed May 18, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 iwf/WOR. fo/vm@ i'. Viz/ahw.

Patented Sept. 21, #1937' UNITED STATES 2.093.788 PIPE TONGS Leonard E. Vaughn, Huntington Park, alif.

PATENT ori-'ICE REISSUED Application May 18, 1936, Serial No. 80,358 j 1 3 12 claims. (ci. s1ss) This invention relates to tongs of the type, such as pipe or casing tongs which are used in handling well casing, tubing'yand the like, an particularly in oil wells.

An object of my invention is to provide a device of this general character which is strong and effective, and which can be quickly and easily latched andunlatched about the casing or pipe, and one which will not easily break and thus endanger the life of the operator. Tongs heretofore in use have been cumbersome to operate and the parts thereof have frequentlybroken, and the latching mechanism used to secure the jaws about the pipe or casing frequently unlatched, all of which seriously endangered the life of the operator.- In my invention, the pipe-engaging jaws are positively locked about the pipe or casing by a relative vertical movement of one or more jaws, this vertical movement being manually accom-` plished, and when the jaws are in locked position, a movement of the manually operated mechanism is necessary before the jaws are released for withdrawal from the pipe or casing.

A further object of my invention is to provide tongs of the general character stated in which the latch heretofore in use is eliminated.

A feature of my invention is the provision of a. device of the character specied, which Ycan be easily and conveniently locked and unlocked and 'to lock the device it is merely necessary to manually move a lever. This -same lever also acts to release the tongs. This arrangement increases thespeed with which the tongs can be operated.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description, and

the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspectiveyew of niv tongs with parts broken away to show interior construction.v

view of the vertically movable jaw and actuating means therefor, with the jaw in engaging position.

Figure 4- is a view similar to Fig. 3, with jaw in engaged position.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the j aw' in disengaging position.

Figure 6 is a'. fragmentary perspective View, diagrammatic in nature, showing the locking finger in engaged-position in the keeper jaw.

fform of'moving meansfor the jaw.;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the operating cam.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the tongs in position to encircle the pipe, with parts broken away to show interior construction.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of keeper'jaw, the locking nger being shown in engaged position.

Figure l0 is a fragmentary perspective view of the keeper jaw shown in Fig. 9, and with the locking finger about to engage the jaw.

Figure 11 is an end view of the keeper jaw shown in Fig. 9, with the locking nger in engaged position.

Figure 12 is a. fragmentary perspective view of still another type of keeper jaw and locking finger.

Figure 13 is an end view of the keeper jaw shown in Fig. 12, with the locking linger entering the jaw.

Figure 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 but with the locking finger about to engage the jaw.

Figure 15 is a view similar to Fig. 13 but with the lockingiinger in engaged position.

FigureV 16 is a plan View of the tongs with another type of keeper jaw and locking nger.

Figure 17 is a transverse sectlonalview of the keeper jaw and locking finger shown in, Fig. 16. with parts in engaged position.

Figure 18 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 17, withfparts shown in engaging position.

Figure 19 -is a transverse sectional view'o one of the jaws of the tongs, illustrating a modified Figure 20 is a fragmentary side elevation ofthe actuating means shown in Fig. 19.

Figure 2l isa `fragmentary. plan view of the actuating means shown'in Fig. 19. n

Referring more particularlyto the drawings. In my tongs, one vjaw or set of jaws are mounted on the handle and are'movable in a horizontal plane, as well Aas-'being vertically movable relative to the other jaws,.therebymoving one jaw or setof jawsinto and out of locking position with the other jaworxset of jaws.

The numeral i indicates .the handle at the inner end of which is mounted-the pipe orr the `casing- `engaging mechanism 2. f [The handle i is' of the usual elongated type',"such as isgenerallyfused in devices ofj this character. While I have here A illustrated thel casing-engaging mechanism as consisting of afplurality of-jpivotally' mounted jaws, itis obvioustha'tthe number-of these :laws can be varied Vso.` long as thejaws can be Vmoved or casing,

. lugs I3 and these lugs are moved into or out of Considering Figs.1 to 15, inclusive. The cascomprises two oppositely disposed inner jaws 3 and 4, a locking jaw 5 and a keeper jaw 6. The locking jaw is provided with a locking nger 1. The inner jaws are pivotally attached to the handle I and the locking jaw 5 and keeper jaw 6 are either pivotally or iixedly attached to the jaws 4 and 3, respectively. The locking finger 1 is caused to engage and disengage the keeper jaw, as will be further described.

The engagement and disengagement of the locking finger is accomplished by the vertical movement of the jaws 4 and 5 by means of the following arrangement: The' inner end of the jaw 4 is bifurcated, as shown at 8; the inner end of the handle I its into the bifurcation 8 and this bifurcation is greater than the thickness of the handle, thereby permittingV vertical movement of the jaw 4. A pin 9 is xediy mounted in the handle l and this pin extends thru the jaw 4 at its bifurcated end whereby the jaw is guidedin its vertical movement, as will be further described.

An apron I depends from the jaw 4' at its bifurcated end, and the handle is journaled in the apron. A cam I2 is xedly attached to the handle II and on rotation of this handle the cam will bear against the bottom of the pin 9.

AA coil spring I3aL bears against the upper wing of the bifurcation, thereby urging the jaw 4 into raised position, as shown in Fig. 2. When the handle is rotated to move the cam I2 into ing engaging means engagement with the bottom of the pin 9, the

jaws .4, will be moved downwardly, thereby carrying the locking vringer 1 into locked position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. When it is desired to release the tongs, the handle is again rotated so that the dwell of the cam moves away from the pin whereupon the jaws 4, 5 are moved upwardly, and the locking' iinger 1 disengages the keeper jaw.

The inter-connecting engagementof the locking finger and the keeper jaw may be effectedl in the following manner: The locking nger 1 is provided with one or more inwardly extending engagement with keeper lugs I4 which project from the inner wall of the keeper jaw 6. The lugs I3 are preferably spaced vertically, as are also the keeper lugs I4. Thus, in the raised position of the locking finger 1, the lugs I3 will pass over the keeper lugs I4, as shown in Figs..3, 10 and 14, and after the pipe has been encircled by the jaws. a downward movement of the jaws 4, 5 will then move the lugs I3 back of the keeper' lugs I4, as shown in Figs. 1, 4, 6, 9, 11 and 15.

To accommodate different sized pipes, I may provide spaced sets of keeper lugs on the jaw 6, such as are shown at I5. Y

As shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, the locking iinger 1 can swing into the keeper jaw 6 thru a horizontal slot I6. A rib I1 adjacent the bottom of the jaw 6 is so spaced from the inner wall of the jaw that the locking finger 1 will engage 4this rib when in lowered and locked position, thus holding the locking finger against accidental outward movement while the tongs are being used.

In Figs. 9 to 11, inclusive, the slot I6 is eliminated and the jaw 6 is cored out. In this arrangement, the locking linger enters the jaw from the end and then moves vertically into locked 75 position, the same as previously described. The

-of the-handle I. A keeper jaw or tip 23 antenas rib I8 in the bottom of the jaw is engaged by the locking finger to keep this iinger from disengaging the keeper lugs I4. v

In Figs. 12 to 15, inclusive, I have shown still another type of keeper jaw and locking finger. The rib I1 is provided with a plurality of notches I9 which notches are adapted to receive a depending lug on the locking nger. With this arrangement, I provide a type of T-head lock in which inter-engaging lugs are provided on both the inner and outer set of locking fingers.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that both of the jaws 4, 5 are moved vertlcally in order to latch and unlatch the tongs.

In Figs. 16 to 18, inclusive, I provide an inner pair of oppositely arranged jaws 2|, 22. Each of these jaws is pivotally attached to the inner end is pivotto the outer end of the 24 is pivotally attached In this modifithat ally or xedly attached jaw 22. A latching jaw to the outer end of the jaw 2|. cation, a structure substantially identical to shown in Fig. 2 is provided at the pivot 25 between the jaws 2|, 24. 'I'hat is, the inner end of the jaw 24 is bifurcated and slides on the pin 25. The pin 25 is identical to 9. The same handle arrangement 26 is provided substantially identical to the handle I I. The cam operating means, as previously described, is here employed whereby only the jaw 24 is moved vertically in order to latch and unlatch the tongs.

The outer end of the jaw 23 is provided with a plurality of spaced holes 21. A locking finger 28 is provided with downwardly extending pins 29 which t into the holes 21. Thus, in order to latch the tongs, the nger 28 is swung inwardly until the pins 29 are aligned with the holes 2T. Then, by rotating the handle 26, the jaw 24 is lowered and the pins 29 enter the holes 21, as shown in Fig. 17. 5

For the purpose of aligning the pins 29 and the holes 21, I may use removable dowel pins 30 in the nger 28. These dowels engage the edge of the keeper jaw 23 when the pins 29 are in a position to be lowered into the holes 21.

Another means of moving the locking jaw vertically relative to the other jaws in the tongs isy illustrated in Figs. 19 to 21, inclusive. The inner jaw 3| is bifurcated and the pin 32 is xediy mounted therein. The locking jaw 33 is slidably mounted on the pin 32. A shaft 34 is journaled in a plate 35 whichplate is xedly attached to the jaw 3|. A handle 36 is secured to the shaft 34 for the purpose of rotating this shaft. A cam 31 on the inner end of the shaft 34 ilts into an elongated cam groove 38. The cam groove is formed in the jaw 33. Thus, by rotating the shaft 34, the jaw 33 will be raised or lowered for the purpose vof moving a locking iinger into a disengaged position.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. Pipe tongs, comprising a handle, la casingengaging means connected to the handle, said means comprising opppositely disposed pipe-engaging jaws, said jaws being pivotally attached at one end to the handle, one of said jaws being vertically movable, means` detachably connecting the outer swinging ends of the jaws, said last named means including a manually operable means engaging one of the jaws whereby said last named jaw is moved vertically with respect to its inter-engagingfjaw.

2. Pipe tongs comprising a handle, a casing-engaging means connected to the handle, said means comprising oppositely disposed series of pivotally connected pipe-engaging jaws, a pair of said jaws being pivotally mounted on they handle, means detachably connecting the outer swinging ends of the jaws, said means including engageable means on one of the jaws, engaging means on the inter-engaging jaw, and means engaging a jaw in one of the oppositely disposed symmetrical series whereby one of the engaging jaws may be moved -vertically relative to the inter-engaging jaw to engage and disengage said engaging means.

3. Pipe tongs comprising a handle, casing-engaging means vconnected to the handle comprising two oppositely disposed series of pivotally connected jaws, means'for detachably connecting the outer swinging jaws of the two series, said last named means comprising engageable means on one of the jaws and engaging means on the other of the jaws, and manually operable means engaging a jaw of one series whereby said jaw may be vertically moved relative to the interengaging jaw, thereby engaging and disengaging the detachable connecting means.

, 4. Pipe tongs comprising a handle, two oppositely disposed series of pivotally connected jaws mounted on the handle, the outer swinging pair of the series of jaws being detachably connected, engageable means on one of theouter jaws, engaging means on the other of the outer jaws, and manually operable means engaging one` of the series of connected jaws whereby said jaws may be vertically moved relative to the interengaging jaw to engage and disengage the outer jaws.

5'. Pipe tongs comprising a handle, two oppositely disposed series of pivotally connected jaws mounted on the handle, the outer swinging pair of the series of jaws being detachably connected,

Asaid locking nger engaging means on the keeper jaw, and means engaging a jaw in the series including the locking finger whereby the locking iingei is moved vertically relative to the keeper jaw to engage and disengage the keeper jaw.

7. Pipe tongs comprising a handle, a casing-engaging means connected to the handle comprislng two oppositely disposed series of pivotally connected jaws, means for detachably connecting the outer swinging jaws of the two series, said last named means comprising engageable means 60 on one of the outer jaws and engaging means on the other of the outer jaws, land manually rotatable cam means engaging a jaw of one series whereby one of said outer jaws may be vertically moved relative to the inter-engaging jaw, thereby engagingand disengaging the detachable connecting means.

8. Pipe tongs comprising ,a handle, oppositely disposed series of pivotally connected jaws mounted on the handle, a keeper jaw in one of the series, a locking finger on the other of the series, said locking nger engaging means on the keeper jaw, and manually rotatable cam means engaging a jaw in the series including the locking iinger whereby the locking finger is moved yvertically relative to the keeper jaw to engage whereby the locking linger may be vertically moved relative to the keeper jaw to engage and disengage the keeper jaw. K

10.. Pipe tongs comprising a handle, two oppositely disposed series of pivotally connected jaws, both of the series being pivotally mounted on the handle, a keeper jaw in one of the series, lugs on the keeper jaw, a locking finger in the other series of jaws, said locking iinger beingengageable with the lugs, a manually rotatable. means engaging a jaw of the series including the locking iinger whereby the locking iinger is inoved vertically relative to the keeper jaw to engage and disengage the lugs.

11. Pipe tongs comprising a handle, two oppositely disposed series of pivotally connected jaws,

. both of the series being pivotally mounted on the handle, a keeper jaw in one of the series, lugs on the keeper jaw, a locking iinger in the other series of jaws, said locking linger being engageable with the lugs, a manually rotatable cam means engaging a jaw of the series including the locking finger whereby the locking finger is moved vertically relative to the keeper jaw to engage and disengage the lugs.

12. Pipe tongs comprising a handle, two oppositely disposed series of pivotally connected Jaws, the two series being pivotally attached to the handle, a keeper jaw at the outer end of one of the series, a locking finger at the outer end of the other series, a pin on the locking finger, said keeper jaw having a recess to receive the pin, and manually rotatabler cam means engaging the locking finger whereby the locking finger is moved vertically relative to the keeper jaw to engage and disengage the recess in' the keeper jaw. v

LEONARD E. VAUGHN. 

